With Survivor: Micronesia in the books, the reality franchise is now gearing up for season 17 by going back to Africa. The show will be setting up shop on the continent’s west coast in the country of Gabon. “I didn’t know where it was,” confesses host Jeff Probst. “I had to look it up on a map. It is probably the most remote place we have ever gone.” What does that mean in terms of wildlife? “We don’t know,” Probst says. “No one’s really ever hung out there. We’re going to leave a boma with some sticks and stuff, and the contestants will be given instructions that they need to finish it since we’re a little concerned because it’s so unknown. In Kenya [season 3], we had armed guards everywhere so that if something did happen, we could take care of it. We’re not gonna have that because they’re telling us it is so remote and will probably be remote forever. But a gorilla could wander into camp.” (You mean, Joel from Micronesia?)
Season 17 marks another big change for Survivor in that it will be the first time the show has been shot in high definition. “Survivor is one of those shows that you want to see in HD,” says Probst, while noting that the scenery will look a lot more stunning than the stranded contestants, “People with bug bites are gonna look worse, people that don’t have great bodies are gonna look worse, and people who are really attractive are probably gonna look… worse.” And what about you, Jeff? “I went through every scenario: Is there any way I can wear makeup? Is there any way I could not shoot in the middle of the day? And the answers are all no. I’ve just come to terms with it.”
Survivor: Gabon—Earth’s Last Eden begins filming in late June and will air in September on CBS.
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I think that you guys should have a fans vs favs again because this show was great. if you ever do this again i think that Amanda and James should come back again.
have you ever thought about having a survivor show where it is just teenagers. i think that is would be great if you did this. is would also be neat to see how their mind works.
Thank goodness they are going high-def next season. I just got a new hi-def set and I was really looking forward to Survivor in HD.
Last time they shot in Africa it had low ratings and I thought they weren’t going back! Jeff blamed the lack of scenery and water/ocean as a back drop.
EW, please post transcripts of the videos with the booted contestants next season. My connection isn’t good enough at home, and I’m not allowed to watch the videos at work, but I would like to hear what these guys have to say. So transcripts, please!
I think that it would be the ultimate challange to pick a location that is cold as opposed to tropical. Put them in the snow with food and they can build an igloo!
I used to live in Gabon from 1977 to 1982, and things have changed, but I am curious to see how they keep the whole thing under cover. Gabon is one of the richest country in Africa, if not the richest. Oil, and minerals are its wealth. It is full of crazy bugs, and VERY lush in vegetation. I always wanted to go back to see what it’s like now in Libreville. Gabonese people are very friendly, but it is a different world over there.
Jeff, any chance I could help? How’s you French? I’m also a video editor!
I have been a devoted Fan from the beginning but after watching that manipulative, lying, little witch walk with the million, I’m done. Even if Amanda was a bit too sweet to be for real, she did not lie and use people. Didn’t the jury hear how she didn’t know about the plot to out Ozzy? If nothing else, she was truthful. And why didn’t anyone mention how Pavorti tried to get rid of Amanda, back when she found the idol? Wow…how quickly the jury forgets. Being a liar and user does not make someone a good game player, only a good PLAYER. I’d loved to see Ozzy get another chance….. is there anyway the fans can vote for another big winner, like we did with Rufus? How about an all time reunion, with a couple hour update on what all the past players are doing?
I dont know if you remember s.king… but Parv was the only one who wouldn’t vote for Amanda… watch a little closer next time sunshine…
to bad the show is only open to contestants who are American citizens
Stop messing with the format, no wonder the ratings were the lowest ever,it’s not fair to bring back losers, they lost, give new faces a chance, forget about fans and faves or that stupid race show, go back to the original formula..please
I lived in Gabon for 12 years. The humidity and the bug factor are going to make this the most difficult location ever. This time they really are going to be survivors, even the staff. Oh, I forgot to mention snakes like the Green Mamba-there is no anti-venom yet invented. Someone may die in this next episode. Get ready for the real survivor.
I lived in Gabon from 2002-2004 in a town called Koula-Moutou. I saw gorillas, hippoes, chimpanzees, monkeys, strange birds, snakes, huge mosiquitos, and spiders the size of your hand. We washed clothes by hand, ate taro leaves, atangas, and the beloved baton de manioc, and of course drank lots of Regab (brewed in Gabon). The Gabonese and West Africans are quite friendly towards Americans, mais j’espere que vous parlez bien le francais, parce que le gabonais ne parlent pas l’anglais. I hope the Survivors will have to endure a bush taxi ride…BRUTAL!
I think when they know that survivor is going to have its FINAL season i think they should make it as hard as possible. I think that they should have it in Antarctica, or somewhere where they really have to test the elements. HAHA!! I think that would be great!! Of course since Antarctica is SOOO FREAKIN COLD, they would shorten the number of days being there and make it a shorter show, but still it would be a wonderful way to end it. Also i think that for the last season it should be with all of the past winners!! It would be ULTIMATE SURVIVOR!! And the prize something like (Insert Money amount larger than a million here).
I think the survivors should play it out till the end last man standing or woman and then there would be a real survivor no jury they only vote for who they like not the true winner.
WoW!!! What a great idea and switch -up– by changing how the winner of Survivor is chosen. I do believe we need to get rid of the jury and use them in a different way and have the viewers choose-hmmm like “Idol” maybe.
I know the producers are incredible and will find a way to change it up.
I think that Survivor should be shot at least once in a Northern location because I think so far it has all happened in either hot or humid (sometimes both) locations, and it would probably be interesting to have a game up North where the climate and the conditions are completely different… Maybe Canada, or Russia would be good!
Survivor will never go to a cold location for one reason, ratings. Ratings will drop significantly if there were no swimsuits and hardly anyway differentitating one survivor with another (talking about the mandatory clothing they’d need to wear).
Secondly, I think that changing the way that the winner should be chosen (eg ‘idol’ or challenge) completly defeats what the previous 38 days of the game are about. Letting the audience decide, no offense, but I think is a terrible idea. You would get all the ‘likeable’ people kicked out because otherwise they’d win guarenteed at the end and also there would be no strategising because survivors would be scared to make a move in case the audience doesnt like it.
They should make Survivor 18 in the middle of a city. Then they have to survive along the streets in The Netherlands or somewhere else.
They should have a season called Winners vs. Losers. Winners would be all the previous contestants who won versus the losers, which would be all the runners up who lost. Any excuse to bring back Stephanie is fine by me
GET SOME CANADIANS ON THE SHOW!!
not only would it increase viewers in Canada, you could even do something like Survivor Canadians VS Americans.
anyways im looking forward to the next season. and im hoping that Ozzy and James will get another shot at survivor, as should some other veterans like Ethan Zohn and Colby Donaldson and Yul Kwon.
I worked at the US Embassy in Gabon in 2005-2006. Friends still there say the Survivor crew is camped out in Nyonie. This is an area across the estuary from the capital Libreville. It is only accessible via boat so isolated and unspoiled. Search Flickr for Nyonie for pictures.
Why does Jeff pronounce it Ga-bone? In English, don’t you say Ga-bonn?
Why does Jeff pronounce it Ga-bone? In English, don’t you say Ga-bonn?
Jeff is pronouncing the name incorrectly, although to be fair, it might be his attempt at french. He’d be better to say it as Gabonn.
I also spent several months in Gabon last year. Partly working in the jungle and in Port Gentil. I’m curious where this one will be situated and what they will encounter. From the look of the trailer, they plan on encountering a few different animals. It is a very agressive jungle. The insects and the snakes play for keeps like no other place. French is the main common language but the native languages are many and varied. Looking forward to watching this one.
Gabon is pronounced Ga-bone, like a dog bone. It is not pronounced Ga-bonn, as in Bonn, Germany. Probst is saying it correctly. I know, I’ve heard the locals say the word a million times.
Isnt it interesting!! Gabon is where people take Ibogaine a rite of passage root that has been Proven to Interrupt Addiction!! Hopefully this may bring some more awareness to this wonderful plant teacher!!
Google IBOGAINE !!!
Its not a Joke people just have not heard of it before. I see it work all the time.
Imagine the promotion for the TV Corp. or Survivor series if they integrated a plant that stops the addiction cycle cold. Every person in America is affected by addiction in one form or another.
Then they could call it Survivor: The Addiction Series
That’s cool for Gabon! The article makes it sound like it’s on the moon somewhere, though. Well, the contestants certainly won’t starve. There’s food if they can hunt. And if they have the strength to walk, they may even be lucky enough to learn about Regab (Local beer).
By te way, it’s GABON!!!!
Mbolo to all =)) The way you would pronounce the country’s name in English would be Ga-bonn like Bonn from Germany
You might have notice that there is no e at the end of the country’s name … anyways!
As a Gaboneses citizen, living in the big ATL and a fan of survivor this is really exciting to see the country put on the spot light … hope it will boost tourism and show more than vegetation … it is going to be ruff … careful with paludisme.
GABON is the country where i come from, and to know that survivor will try to survive there is so exciting to me!This is the first time American tv spectators will truly experience fear and stress felt by actors when these latter will face sacred items or step into secret forbid dooms.Though the country is blessed by God, Ozzy and all the teams must watch out, and no worse will come about. MBOLO(hello) to all the gabonese. Enjoy regabs, surivors!!